Uses and types of graphic organizers

Graphic organizers are a great tool for people who have a visual learning style. Besides, allow us to structure concepts and establish relationships between them, so it is possible to use them in different contexts.

There is a wide variety of schemes, so it is normal for you to wonder which one is best for your purposes. Here you will find the most common types and we will explain how to make the most of them. Don’t miss anything, let’s get started.

What are graphic organizers?

Graphic organizers are visual representations of knowledge. Through them, important aspects are captured, such as related concepts or parts of the knowledge that you want to explain. This way the information is available in a visual way, without leaving aside the text.

The greatest usefulness they have for the study and presentation of information is that it is possible to collect and organize it. This makes it easier to manage that knowledge, by comparing, contrasting and interrelating the different parts of the organizer.

Another benefit is the observation of the entire framework at a single glance. In this way, the amount of knowledge that is covered with a glance is much greater than if it were developed in writing, for example.

What types of graphic organizers exist?

If you want to start using this type of graphics, it is valuable that you first know the most used ones and then choose the one that best fits your needs.

1. Bar chart

The classic graph where quantitative data is represented with bars within the Cartesian axes. Very useful for comparing quantities or statistical correlations.

2. Concept map

Another of the most used in the field of education. It is a type of organizer in which different concepts are related to cover the entire system. It is very versatile, as it is represented to the creator’s liking and allows it to be later related to written or orally presented content.

3. Ishikawa diagram

Due to the shape it takes when represented, the Ishikawa diagram is also known as a fishtail diagram. It is very useful for analyzing cause-effect relationships, since a line is drawn that leads to the event in question. Other lines extend along it that portray the possible factors that led there.

4. Summary table

It consists of a system of keys that breaks down, in root form, general concepts into their most concrete parts. It can be used from right to left, from top to bottom, or even in table form, depending on whoever creates it.

5. Semantic map

Its greatest use is to organize the information contained in a text. They are similar to synoptic tables and concept maps, with the small difference that They start from the central idea of ​​the text and branch out that information. No texts or prepositions are placed in the links between concepts.

6. Timeline

It allows sequences of events to be ordered, so that the temporal relationship between them is well understood. It is very useful to visualize the duration of these events and their frequency within the same period, making it effective for analyzing problems in the work area and in the school environment.

7. Flowchart

Thanks to this graphic organizer you can represent the steps of a process. In addition to simply capturing a large amount of information, it is very useful for giving understandable instructions to anyone. They are often used in algorithms and is considered suitable for computing.

8. Venn Diagram

Another of the best-known graphic organizers, consisting of several overlapping circles. It is very useful to study how concepts relate to each other, since the intersections would include common points and the remaining area would include exclusive characteristics.

9. Organization chart

The organization chart is one of the best ways to represent a hierarchy visually. You will find it, above all, in the workplace to know who to turn to if you need help. Also They are useful for establishing priorities in the order of carrying out tasks.

10. Gantt Chart

Very useful to represent the progress of a project or the overlap of different events over time, since it is a graph where They represent the different concepts on a timeline, with their duration in units. The Gantt chart allows you to precisely organize the tasks or events that need to be completed by specific deadlines.

11. SWOT Matrix

The SWOT matrix is ​​a table of 4 cells where weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities are listed (hence the acronym). It is widely used in the field of personal growth and work psychology, as it helps to analyze in detail all the factors that play for and against a person’s success.

This graphic organizer is convenient in decision making.

12. Spider web

The spider web is a form of graphic representation that It takes its name from how its concepts are organized, branching from the main one, which is placed in the center. It is based on the tendency we have to return the focus of attention to the element that is in the center of an image. In this way, it is possible to branch out concepts and details without losing sight of what matters most.

13. Gowin’s V

This graphic organizer is widely used in education, to reflect on a topic through questions and answers. A V is drawn and, on both sides, questions that the person asks about the topic are written. In the center, the main question is written and then all the others are prioritized based on it.

14. Chain of sequences

It is a circular diagram that represents a cyclic process with all its parts. It is often used a lot for biological processes or to describe problems that never end (in psychological consultation, for example). It allows you to clearly visualize how each element follows one another until you return to the initial one.

15. Circle diagram

The classic “cheese” circle. It is one of the best ways to understand what elements make up any concept by capturing what proportion of it they represent.

16. Character map

Although it is a graphic organizer that is not very versatile, it is very effective in educational settings when you have to characterize a real or fictional character. Attributes of his personality branch out around the image of said character, to which details can be added below.

17. Mentefacto

Mindfacts are an advanced way of representing concepts. The knowledge in question is placed in the center and 4 branches are derived from it:

Above: group or class to which the concept belongs.Below: subclasses of the concept or its ramifications.Left: main features.Right: exclusions (similar concepts that must be differentiated from the central one).

18. Constellation of ideas

This is another form of graphical representation, similar to idea maps and spider webs. In this case, the hierarchy is much clearer and more ordered from the center, since The idea is to classify and not so much to develop.

19. Line diagram

A classic line graph, represented on Cartesian axes, very useful to comprehensively observe the progress of a process. It is used in different areas, from mathematics to psychology.

20. Concentric circles

This is a very simple form of graphical representation. It consists of placing a concept within a circle and surrounding it with those that encompass it. In this way it is possible to abstract ideas from the concrete to the general; also the opposite.

21. Table diagram

This organizer consists of draw a table, where the table would be the objective or concept and the legs would be what is needed to achieve it or the details of the idea. It is useful for organizing information for a project or for establishing relationships between inseparable concepts.

The versatility of graphic organizers

There are many people who need to represent complex concepts and relationships to explain them to others, but there are also those who need to optimize their study time.

If you use these charts, remember to choose the ones that work best for you. Do not hesitate to do so, as they make knowledge accessible to anyone.

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